Birth of a nickname - John McWhorter

2013-09-24

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Where do nicknames come from? Why are Ellens called Nellie and Edwards Ned? It's all a big misunderstanding from the early days of the English language, a misunderstanding that even the word nickname itself derives from. John McWhorter tracks the accidental evolution of some familiar diminutives.

Lesson by John McWhorter, animation by Lippy.